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Hostos Celebrates Graduates at 47th Winter Commencement Ceremonies

Date:

March 9, 2018

Time:

9:22 AM

On March 2, 2018, Hostos Community College (CUNY) celebrated the achievements of 582 graduates during two amazing Winter Commencement Ceremonies. Held in the Main Theater in front of packed house of family and friends, degrees were handed out by President Dr. David Gómez and Provost Dr. Christine Mangino, along with help of various College Vice Presidents and other administrators and Hostos family.

The Valedictorian was Andrelle G. Jeffers and Awilda Rosado served as Salutatorian. Keynote speakers were Michael Blake, NYS Assembly, 79th District and Lisanette Rosario, Director of Career Services, HCC Alumna, 2001.

The ceremonies were also attended by Fernando Ferrer, Board of Trustees/CUNY; Dr. Vita C. Rabinowitz, Executive VC and University Provost/CUNY; Mayra Linares-García, Board of Trustees/CUNY; and Loretta Martínez, General Counsel and VC for Legal Affairs/CUNY.

Professors Ángel Morales and Marta Rivera served as Grand Marshals. Master and Mistress of Ceremonies were Professors Mohammad Sohel and Andrea Fabrizio, respectively.

For the official program, which includes bios of all the special guests and speakers, click here.

President Gómez’s special message to the graduates:Harriet Tubman once said that “every dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember that you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world.” You, the class of 2018, have dared to dream and to bring yourselves to this point today. You have demonstrated the strength, patience and passion. Now, you have the opportunity as graduates to help change the world. This year we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the founding of Hostos Community College. As we look back on the struggles that your predecessors faced, you will notice how similar they are to those you face now. Social, economic and political unrest swept the country. The most vulnerable among our citizens were attacked by our political leaders, blamed for the problems in the nation and marginalized.

Ours, however, is not a story of desperation or loss. It is, rather, a story of hope, strength, patience and passion. First, dreamers like you believed that an institution of the South Bronx and for the South Bronx could be created. When threatened with extinction, students like you determined that this beacon of hope would not be extinguished and fought for its survival. It is because of them that we are privileged to celebrate our founding and our growth as an anchor institution here in the Bronx.

Now dreamers like you will go on to make an impact in the finest tradition of Hostos the man and the institution. Hostos the man fought for the self-determination of not only Puerto Rico but Latin America. He fought for women’s rights and equal education for all. Hostos the institution, founded on the fundamental tenet of social justice, has shown that each and every person, if given an opportunity, will excel.

That the human spirit knows no bounds and that you will change the world for the better and inspire future generations is something about which I have no doubt.

Remember always that this is your home. Though your time here as students is coming to a close, you are part of the college’s history and its future. I could not be more proud of each and every one of you.David Gómez, Ed.D.